Cannabis-oil: a local perspective
A local user shares their view on the use of cannabis for medical purposes
POLOKWANE – Dagga or cannabis is an illegal drug in South Africa and possession thereof could lead to arrest. However, cannabis-oil, a substance produced from the cannabis plant prescribed by licensed doctors, has gained widespread interest for its medicinal benefits as it is believed to reduce nausea, increase appetite and decrease anxiety in cancer sufferers.
Review did a bit of research and spoke to a local user to find out what they think of the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
“Cannabis-oil is used in the treatment of cancer but is also used in cases of stress and sleeplessness,” Dawid Prinsloo (pseudonym) explains.
“It stirs appetite in people who aren’t eating enough and relieves any pain that other medicines fail to cure,” he continues.
According to Dawid, cannabis contains antioxidants and consumption thereof is beneficial for heart health. He says it is a remedy for all forms of skin ailments such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and many more.
“We’ve seen great results in children who suffer from epileptic fits and it has been used as an alternative to prescribed medicine in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),” Dawid says.
He is of the opinion that pharmaceutical companies will lose billions when cannabis is legalised as it is an alternative to prescribed medicines and many claim it is more effective than pills.
Jan Cap, a medical cannabis research association, produces cannabis capsules, ointments and plasters and sells it to people with cancer, skin conditions and other ailments.
The spokesperson for Jan Cap says they’ve been researching the uses and benefits of cannabis for the past eight years.
He, like Dawid, says cannabis can be used for the treatment of a number of ailments including depression and arthritis, and even Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
“It is safe for children with ADHD and who suffer from epileptic fits to use and is not addictive,” he says.
“Wild cannabis or dagga is illegal; we don’t endorse the abuse of the plant. We make use of specialised products. Before, our bodies produced cannabinoids, a substance found in cannabis or dagga, used to keep the body healthy. Unfortunately, the body no longer produces this substance and Jan Cap believes we need to supplement the shortage with cannabis products,” he explains.
He says it is safe to use and you cannot overdose on their products. “We invite the public to do a bit of research into the benefits of cannabis and our products before they decide to write it off. There are hundreds of people in the city who make use of cannabis products who have seen great improvements in their health,” he continues.
A person suffering from high blood pressure contacted Jan Cap via their Facebook page and with the use of their products, his blood/sugar level dropped from 17 to 4.
These representatives make a strong case for the controlled use of cannabis.
